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REV. RUSSELL GECIL, D.D. 


Pastor Second Presbyterian Church 
Richmond, Va. 


Died June 15, 1925 





SF oveword 


me 


It was the manifest desire of the congregation that 
some record of the faithful and fruitful work among 
us of our late beloved pastor, Rev. Russell Cecil, D. D., 
should be preserved, and we feel assured that those 
who knew him will value these ‘‘Memorials,”’ remind- 
ing us, as they do, of him who for twenty-five years in 
this church preached earnestly and eloquently the Gos- 
pel of God’s Grace and served the community in many 
ways until he “‘fell asleep.” 


We have added to the Memorials the sermon he 
had prepared before he was stricken with his last ill- 
ness, and which he had expected to deliver the follow- 
ing Sunday morning. May it be to each of us a mes- 
sage from one “who being dead yet speaketh.”’ 


“Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: 
yea, saith the spirit, that they may rest from their labors and 
their works do follow them.” 

—THE SESSION, 


Second Presbyterian Church, 
Richmond, Va. 


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CONTENTS 


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A Sketch of the Life of Rev. Russell Cecil, D. D. . 


Memorials 
By the Session of the Second Presbyterian Church. . . 
By the Board of Deacons of the Second Presbyterian Church 
By the Vanguard Class . 
By the Woman’s Auxiliary aes 
By the Hoge Memorial Presbyterian Church . 
By the Presbyterian League . 
By the Synod of Virginia . 
By the Presbyterian Committee of Publication . 
By the Ministerial Association 
By the Bible Society of Virginia 
By the Million Dollar Campaign Committee 
By the Presbyterian Ministers’ Association 
By the Union Theological Seminary 
Memorial Service . 


Rev. W. L. Lingle, D.D. . 

Rev. W. L. Carson 

Rev. O. E. Buchholz . 

Rev. Edward Mack, D.D. . ‘ 
Rev. H. C. MacLachlan, D.D. . 


Newspaper Statements . 
Address by John S. Munce . 


Dr. Cecil’s Last Sermon 


Went 


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MeSieh EC voy the LL OF 
REMEORUSSELTEVGECIE, D.D: 


we 


REV. RUSSELL CECIL, D.D., was born at Monti- 
cello, Ky., October Ist, 1853, and entered into Life 
Eternal after a brief illness, June 15th, 1925. He was 
the son of Russell Howe Cecil, long a ruling elder in 
the Presbyterian Church and Lucy Phillips Cecil, a 
rare woman, mentally and spiritually. Dr. Cecil was 
reared in Mercer County, Ky., and received his early 
education in what he loved to speak of as ‘‘an old field 
school,” but it was taught by a man—Dr. James H. 
Smith, who knew well how to awaken in his young 
pupils a love of learning and the ambition for collegi- 
ate education. Out of this little school went forth a 
large group of men who attained distinction in law, 
medicine and in ministry. Dr. Cecil took his academic 
training at Princeton University, graduating in 1874. 
A year later he entered Princeton Theological Semi- 
nary and graduated in 1879. He was not satisfied 
with the ordinary preparation for the high calling to 
which he had consecrated his life, but added thereto 
a course in the Free Church College, Edinburg, Scot- 
land, and studied and traveled for a year in Europe 
and Palestine. Princeton University conferred upon 
him three degrees—in 1874, the degree of A. B.; in 
1877, the degree of A. M., and in 1895, the degree 
of D. D. The Southwestern Presbyterian College also 
conferred upon him the degree of D.D. Dr. Cecil 
had four pastorates in his forty-six years of service— 


10 MEMORIALS 





Nicholasville, Ky., 1880-1885; Central Church, Mays- 
ville, Ky., 1885-1889; First Church, Selma, Ala., 1889- 
1900, and in 1900 he was called to the Second Church, 
Richmond, Va., where he spent the last twenty-five 
years of his faithful and fruitful life. Dr. Cecil 
served the church in many official positions. In 1911 
he was moderator of the General Assembly of the 
Presbyterian Church, and the same year was modera- 
tor of the Synod of Vriginia, and also moderator of 
East Hanover Presbytery. The Richmond Times- 
Dispatch, writing of the Virginia Synod in session at 
Winchester in 1912, said: ‘“There are some very in- 
teresting points connected with the positions held by 
Dr. Cecil. His church is the strongest in the Presby- 
tery and Synod, East Hanover Presbytery is one of 
the oldest and strongest in the Southern Church, as the 
Synod of Virginia is the oldest and strongest Synod in 
the Church, and the General Assembly is the highest 
court in the Church. So it can be seen that such re- 
markable coincidences could hardly take place in the 
case of any other man.” 

For twenty-five years Dr. Cecil was connected with 
the work of the Presbyterian Committee of Publica- 
tion, serving first as vice-chairman and later as chair- 
man of this Committee; he was a member of the 
Executive Committee of Foreign Missions during his 
residence in Alabama, and for twenty years the prési- 
dent of the Virginia Huguenot Society, in which he 
took a very vital interest. He served as a trustee 
of Union Theological Seminary, Virginia; of Columbia 
Theological Seminary, South Carolina; of Southwest- 
ern Presbyterian University, Tennessee, and of Agnes 
Scott College, Georgia, and through these was largely 


MEMORIALS 11 


identified with the educational work of the Church. 
He was a charter member of and represented the 
Southern Presbyterian Church for fourteen years in 
the World Conference on Faith and Order, and in the 
Council of Reformed Churches, and from its found- 
ing was a member of the Presbyterian League of Rich- 
mond Va. In 1912 he was elected president of the 
Alumni Association of Princeton Theological Semi- 
nary, and was president of the Richmond Ministerial 
Association. 

But in all of his activities nothing lay closer to 
his heart or gripped his interest more fully than the 
Bible Society. For more than twenty years he was a 
member of the Board of Managers of the Virginia 
Bible Society, and for many years was chairman of the 
Southern General Assembly’s Permanent Committee of 
the Bible Cause, and during this time represented the 
Southern Presbyterian Church in the Advisory Coun- 
cil of the American Bible Society. The secretary of 
this great cause wrote of him: ‘‘He brought to these 
important positions the same high-souled service which 
was the Cecil ‘water-mark’ on all service he rendered 


his Lord.” 
‘Faithful Unto Death.”’ 


MEMORIAL 


Adopted by the Session of the Second Presbyterian Church 
Richmond, Virginia 


FOR the second time in its history of eighty years, 
this Church has to place on its records the death of 
its pastor. On January 6, 1899, it recorded the death 
of its beloved founder and only pastor for fifty-four 
years the Reverend Moses Drury Hoge, D. D. Now 
we are called on to record the death of the Reverend 
Russell Cecil, D.D., who passed from his earthly 
labors on June 15, 1925. 

Dr. Cecil was installed as pastor of this Church 
November 14th, 1900; so that he had almost com- 
pleted a quarter of a century of service. Coming to 
the Pastorate of the Church at a critical time in its 
history, he soon endeared himself to its members and 
won his way into all hearts. 

Endowed with a splendid personality, affectionate 
and winning in his manner, gentle of speech and modest 
in bearing, for twenty-five years he was our faithful 
and well-beloved minister, our ‘‘Man of God,’ who 
went in and out among us carrying a blessing and 
breaking to us the Bread of Life. He preached the 
Word in season and out of season—a pure evangel, 
proclaiming with force and power carefully prepared, 
faithful messages of God’s love to sinful men. No 
note of doubt was in these messages; he had the “‘assur- 
ance of faith’ and “declared the whole counsel of 
God.” “I know whom [ have believed” was his mes- 
sage, and his heart yearned that every one should 


MEMORIALS 13 


know the living and loving Christ as their Savior, their 
Sanctifier and their Comforter. 

He was more than our preacher—he was our well- 
beloved friend. In joy and sorrow, in distress of 
mind, body and estate, he was the faithful friend, who, 
with loving heart, brought the word of sympathy, 
tender consolation and gentle kindness, pointing to 
him, ‘“‘who carried our sorrows,” and cheering us with 
the glad tidings of the Gospel of God’s grace. He 
never spared himself or failed in any duty or responsi- 
bility in connection with his pastoral duties; visiting the 
sick, comforting the sorrowing, guiding the young, 
encouraging the faint-hearted, and cheering the aged, 
he brought help to many. 

He spent his life for his people. 

Of broad and liberal education, sound scholarship, 
wide reading, and endowed with a most discriminating 
mind, he loved the truth, and seeing Jesus clearly, as 
the ‘author and finisher of our faith,’ the mists of 
error and currents of doubt never beclouded his vision 
or swerved him from the straight course. He believed 
that Jesus was the only Savior of sinful men; yet his 
walk was so gentle that those who differed loved and 
respected him. 

He had a singularly clear, far-seeing mind and was 
eminently wise in counsel, which made him much 
sought after as an adviser and gave him a place of 
respect and confidence and honor among his brethren, 
to whom he was ever the kind friend and counselor. 
He was a great Presbyter, humble and unselfish, never 
putting himself forward, yet because of his great gifts 
he received many honors and was called again and 
again to positions of the greatest responsibility and 


14 3 MEMORIALS 


highest honor in church courts and councils, in all of 
which he bore himself with ability, dignity and power. 
He was truly one of the ‘‘Fathers”’ of the church. 

Easy of approach by young and old, respected, rev- 
erenced, beloved, he held an honored place, not only 
among the people of his own church, but in the hearts 
of the entire community as a good citizen and a great 
Christian. He was great because he was good. 

With the blessings of God, this Church prospered 
under his ministry, greatly enlarging in numbers, gifts 
and works, and we thank our Father in Heaven for 
having blessed us in sending him to be our pastor, and 
for his life and work and example. 

Death found him ready. In the midst of our sor- 
row that we will see his face on earth no more, we 
would not forget that he has now entered into the per- 
fect bliss and joy in the presence of the Master he loved 
and served on earth and heard His gracious welcome, 
“Well done, good and faithful servant; enter thou into 
the joy of thy Lord.” 


RESOLVED, That to Mrs. Cecil and the members of 
the family we express our loving sympathy in the 
death of their beloved husband and father, and com- 
mend them to the care of our Father in Heaven. 


RESOLVED, That this memorial be spread on the 
minutes of the Session, read to the Congregation, pub- 
lished in the Church papers, and sent to Mrs. Cecil 
and members of the family. 


MEMORIAL 


Adopted by the Board of Deacons of the 
Second Presbyterian Church 


IN the death of our beloved pastor, Dr. Cecil, this 
Board of Deacons, as well as all of the organizations 
of the Church, the Church at large and the commun- 
ity, has experienced a great loss. Dr. Cecil was not 
only our pastor but he was a personal friend of each 
one of us, always approachable, and one to whom we 
would as instinctively turn in time of trouble, as we 
would to the nearest and dearest of our own families. 
He combined most happily those characteristics both 
of pastor and friend. He came to our Church at a 
critical period in its history, and at a time when just 
such a pastor was needed most. His work has been 
most fruitful, and it has been largely through him 
that our Church has maintained its usefulness and 
prominence in this community, and that so many souls 
have been added to the Church. While Dr. Cecil had 
attained a ripe age, his health and apparent strength 
were such that we confidently expected and hoped to 
have him with us for many years to come. His brief 
illness and sudden death, therefore, came as a great 
shock, and have cast a gloom over the whole Church. 
Although he has gone before, he has left behind him 
a memory of service well done, and his life among us 
will continue to be an inspiration and an encourage- 
ment and example to us all to strive to so live that we 
may reap the reward of those who walk with the Lord, 
even as he has done. 


16 MEMORIALS 


This Board, desiring to record resolutions upon the 
death of Dr. Cecil resolves: 


1. That in his death this Board has lost a pastor 
and friend, and a wise counsellor whose place it will 


be difficult to fill. 


2.. That we are grateful to God for his earnest and 
forceful preaching of the Gospel, his sterling char- 
acter, for his life which exemplified so well his own 
teachings, and that he was spared to be with us for 
so long a time. 


3. That we tender to his bereaved family our affec- 
tion and our deepest sympathy in their great loss. 


4. That the Secretary of this Board be instructed 
to send to Mrs. Cecil a copy of this preamble and 
these resolutions. 


MEMORIAL and RESOLUTIONS 


Adopted by the Vanguard Bible Class of the 
Second Presbyterian Church 


RESOLUTIONS on the death of Rev. Russell 
Cecil, D.D., for twenty-five years pastor of the 
Second Presbyterian Church, Richmond, Va., passed 
unanimously at a meeting of the Vanguard Bible 
Class, Sunday, June 28, 1925. 

Death has, for the second time within a period of 
eighty years in the history of this Church, removed 
from our midst a servant of God, whose passing away 
will not only be felt by this Church, of which he was 
the pastor for more than a quarter of a century, but 
by this City, State and Nation. 

His great piety, gentleness of manner and sympa- 
thetic understanding of the problems of life enabled 
him to minister to the needs of his people in a way 
that brought comfort and consolation to the be- 
reaved; hope and encouragement to the discouraged 
and cast down and happiness to those who, by his 
helpful assistance, were enabled to get a clearer con- 
ception of the Christian life, and, like Paul, be able 
to say, “I know whom I have believed and am per- 
suaded that he is able to keep that which I have com- 
mitted unto him against that day.” 

Deeply sensible of the great loss this Class and 
Church have sustained in the death of Dr. Cecil, and 
being desirous of placing on our records a suitable ex- 
pression of our sorrow, 


18 MEMORIALS 


Therefore, be it Resolved: 
1. That in the death of Dr. Cecil, the Second Pres- 


byterian Church has lost a very devout and able min- 
ister; this city and community one of its best citizens, 
and the Presbyterian Church one of its great outstand- 
ing figures. 

2. That in his long pastorate, Dr. Cecil brought to 
his work an abundance of enthusiasm and zeal for the 
salvation of his fellow-man, and his absolute faith in 
God and in Jesus Christ as the Saviour of sinful men 
enabled him to expound the Scriptures with great 
power. Under his able ministry, many were brought 
to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, who now mourn 
his death as a personal loss. 


3. That the Presbyterian Church at large has been 
_ deprived of the services of one who at various times 
has occupied the highest offices within the gift of the 
several bodies, which offices he filled with modesty, as 
becomes a true Christian, and yet with such signal 
ability that he was known and recognized as one of 
the greatest moderators the Church has ever had. 


4. That this city of his adoption has lost one of its 
best and most-beloved citizens, a man who always re- 
sponded to every call made upon him, and whose pres- 
ence at any function, large or small, was always a 
benediction. : 


5. That these resolutions be spread upon the min- 
utes of the Vanguard Class; that they be printed in 
the Church Bulletin, and that a copy of the same be 
sent to the family of Dr. Cecil with an expression of 
our sincere, heartfelt sympathy in their great bereave- 
ment. 


RESOLUTIONS 


Adopted by the Woman's Auxiliary of the 
Second Presbyterian Church 


WHEREAS, God in His infinite wisdom and love 
has called away from earth, into that rest that remain- 
eth for the children of God, our beloved Pastor, Dr. 
Russell Cecil, and as we feel very keenly the great loss 
that has come to us in this dispensation of God’s provi- 
dence; 

Therefore, be it Resolved: 

1. ‘That there is a prince and a great man fallen 
this day in Israel,’ and while it is hard for us to under- 
stand why such a good and useful man should have 
been removed from this sphere of usefulness; yet we 
bow in humble submission to the will of our Heavenly 
Father, knowing that ‘all things work together for 
good to them that love God.” 

2. We wish to express our high appreciation of him 
as Pastor and friend. He set for himself the high 
standard drawn in the Holy Scriptures, and measured 
up to the ideal as a Christian gentleman and citizen. 
The Church will miss his wise and able counsels; we 
will miss his earnest Gospel sermons, his kindly, gentle 
and courteous ministrations in our homes, his genial 
smile, his cordial handclasp, and his words of sympathy 
and cheer in sorrow and afflictions. May the memory 
of his Christlike life long dwell with us as an incentive 
to more consecrated lives. 

3. ‘That these Resolutions be placed in our minutes 
and a copy be sent to his bereaved widow, to whom, 
together with his other loved ones, we extend our 
deepest sympathy. 


RESOLUTIONS of RESPECT 


Concerning the Death of Dr. Russell Cecil 
Drawn Up by the Official Bodies 
of the 


Hoge Memorial Presbyterian Church 
June 28, 1925 


IN the passing of Dr. Russell Cecil from his earthly 
career into his Heavenly Glory, we recognize that our 
whole beloved Southern Church has lost a most wise 
counsellor and friend; that the Second Church has sus- 
tained the loss of a pastor and preacher, tested and 
tried by many years of devoted service; and that Hoge 
Memorial Church, to which he was so strongly at- 
tached, is bereft of one who was ever kind, sympa- 
thetic and ready to help either in service or counsel. 


Therefore, be it Resolved by the Board of Deacons 
and Session: 


First, that we take this means of expressing to the 
Second Presbyterian Church congregation our deep 
sympathy in their great sorrow, and assure them of 
our prayers that the God of all Grace would guide 
them in the future as He has so wonderfully done in 
the past. 


Second, that a copy of these resolutions be sent to 
the Session of the Second Church, and that iene be 
spread upon our minutes. 


MEMORIAL of the 
PRESBYTERIAN LEAGUE 
of RICHMOND, VA. 


In Memory of Rev. Russell Cecil, D.D., Member 
of the Board of Directors 


On June 15, 1925, Rev. Russell Cecil, D. D., after 
an illness of only two days, was called to his reward. 
Dr. Cecil was one of the best friends the Presbyterian 
League ever had, and was a member of its Board of 
Directors from the time the League was incorporated 


in 1915 to his death in 1925. 


In 1900 Dr. Cecil became pastor of the Second Pres- 
byterian Church of Richmond. For twenty-five years 
he stood in that historic pulpit and preached with 
power the unsearchable riches of the Gospel of Christ. 
At the same time he lived that Gospel in his daily life 
in such a way as to make Christianity winsome and 
attractive to others. 

He was widely known and loved throughout the 
Church. He was a man whom the Church delighted to 
honor, for he was worthy. In 1911 he was elected 
Moderator of the General Assembly of our Church. 


His interests went beyond the bounds of his own 
Church and denomination. The world was his parish. 
He was especially interested in promoting Christian 

unity and fellowship among the various Evangelical 
Churches of the world. He was a member of the 


World’s Conference on Faith and Order. 


22 MEMORIALS 


His love for unity and co-operation gave him an 
especial interest in the Presbyterian League, which 
stands for unity and co-operation among the Presby- 
terian Churches of Richmond, for the building of the 
Church and the Kingdom in and about this city. 

From the day the League was founded in 1911 he 
was one of its guiding spirits, and from the day it 
was incorporated in 1915 he was one of its Directors. 

We shall miss his wise counsel and his genial face 
which always radiated Christianity. Let us pray for 
a double portion of his spirit. 


MEMORIAL 


Adopted by the Synod of Virginia 
Also by East Hanover Presbytery 


WHEN on June 15, 1925, this servant of God was 
called upon to cease his earthly labors and to come up 
higher, it might truly have been said, ‘‘A prince in 
Israel has fallen,” though he fell only that he might 
rise to a higher and nobler service; for there was no 
greater prince of God among all the members of this 


Synod than Dr. Russell Cecil. 


He believed that preaching the Gospel of Jesus 
Christ was the great outstanding work to which he 
was called, and he preached with power and simplicity 
the pure gospel of the unsearchable riches in Christ 
Jesus. He delighted in preaching the great doctrines 
of the Scriptures, but did it in such a way as to offend 
no one, but to strengthen the faith of believers and 
to win the unconverted to faith in a crucified Saviour. 


He was firm in his convictions as to the great funda- 
mental and essential truths of the gospel of salvation 
as taught in the Scriptures and as held by the Southern 
Presbyterian Church, and there was no unsoundness 
in him. 


As he fed the flocks of God over which he was called 
to be pastor he showed a friendliness, a sympathy, and 
an interest in all that concerned each member, that 
won for him the highest esteem and the deepest love 
of them all. He was always ready to render a service 
to any one whom he could aid in any way. 


24 MEMORIALS 


ne nS a A 


In the affairs of the Church at large he always took 
the deepest interest. He was exceedingly faithful in 
his attendance upon the meetings of the Church, with 
which he was connected, and in the performance of 
every duty connected with them. Few men were ever 
called upon to serve the courts of the Church oftener 
or in more important ways than was he. 

In 1910-11 he had an experience, which was prob- 
ably unique in the history of the Presbyterian Church, 
and which showed the high place he had reached in 
the esteem of his brethren. 

He was during that year at the same time Mod- 
erator of the four courts of the Church with which he 
was connected. As pastor, he was Moderator of the 
Session of the Second Church in Richmond. He was 
then elected Moderator of the Synod of Virginia, of 
the General Assembly, and of East Hanover Pres- 
bytery. 

To him were given many of the honors of the 
Church, and upon him were laid many of its labors. 
He bore the honors with credit to the Church and to 
himself, and he performed all of the labors as unto 
the Lord and for His glory. 

As a man he was pre-eminently a Christian, and no 
one ever doubted the sincerity of his faith. His influ- 
ence upon those with whom he came in contact, whether 
in the Church, in the business world or in social life, 
was always that of a true Christian, whose chief 
thought was the honor and glory of God and the sal- 
vation of souls. He left a deep impress for good upon 
all those with whom he came in contact, and there are 
many who cherish his memory as among their dearest 
treasures. 


MEMORIALS 25 


poranacarsneevennesirentne nse re en ee CR RN rrr ED 


In the brief space available it is possible to give only 
a limited sketch of the outstanding points in his life. 
He was born in Monticello, Ky., on October 1, 1853. 
He was educated at Princeton University, Princeton 
Theological Seminary and the [Free Church College, 
Edinburg, Scotland. He received the degree of Doc- 
tor of Divinity from Southwestern Presbyterian Uni- 
versity, and from Princeton University. He was 
licensed by Transylvania Presbytery in May, 1877, and 
was ordained by West Lexington Presbytery in No- 
vember, 1879. He was pastor at Nicholasville, Ky., 
1879-1885; of Central Church, Maysville, Ky., 1885- 
1889; of the First Church, Selma, Ala., 1889-1900. 
From Selma he came to Richmond, Va., in 1900, and 
for twenty-five years he was the faithful and efficient 
pastor of the Second Church of that city, and there in 
the full strength and vigor of his manhood he was 
suddenly called to his heavenly home. 

Though his labors here have ended, the results of 
these labors will abide forever, and the influence which 
he exerted will be felt throughout eternity by thousands 
of those who knew, admired and loved him. 


RUSSELL CECIL 
An APPRECIATION 


Adopted by the Committee of Publication, October 6, 1925, 
and Ordered Spread Upon the Minutes 


‘THE life of Rev. Russell Cecil, D. D., born October 
1, 1853, died June 15, 1925, was a benediction to a 
countless multitude who came under his influence, and 
he left as a legacy to those who were closely associated 
with him in Christian work, an example of high devo- 
tion to duty which will always be to them a source of 
inspiration and power. 

Dr. Cecil’s clear judgment, splendid poise and un- 
failing courtesy easily marked him for positions of 
leadership, and while carrying the heavy burden of a 
large and exacting pastorate, he yet always found time 
to perform such additional tasks as were assigned him 
by the courts of his Church, and was never too busy 
to take his full share in the promotion of civic enter- 
prises which promised to advance the welfare of the 
community. While modesty and reserve controlled 
his actions, his great ability was quickly recognized in 
any group, and his wise counsel and constructive sug- 
gestions were always helpful in solving difficult prob- 
lems of Church or state. 

Dr. Cecil became a member of the Publication Com- 
mittee in 1901, and for about twenty-five years was 
an enthusiastic supporter of every plan for increasing 
the service of the Committee to the Church. In 1919 
he succeeded the late Dr. James Power Smith as Chair- 


MEMORIALS 27 


man of the Committee. The officials and all members 
of the Executive Committee will ever hold as a precious 
memory their association with Dr. Cecil through these 
years of service, and we desire to record our deep 
sense of loss in the home-going of this princely servant 
of God. The Church has lost a loyal and efficient 
worker, his family a devoted husband and father, and 
the community an illustrious and useful citizen, but 
all are the richer for his life and example. 


MEMORIAL 


Adopted by the Ministerial Association 
of Richmond and Vicinity 


THE Ministerial Union of Richmond and vicinity 
hereby records its great sense of loss in the calling of 
Rev. Russell Cecil, D. D., from his labors on earth to 
his reward in Heaven on June 15, 1925. 


For twenty-five years he had been a member of this 
Union. During all this time he was deeply interested 
in all that the Union undertook for the advancement 
of God’s kingdom. He was regular in his attendance 
upon its meetings, always interested in its work, and 
a zealous participant in all of its activities. 

His fellow members in the Union held him in the 
highest esteem as a brother beloved. He was always 
cordial and sympathetic. He was looked upon as a 
wise counsellor in all matters that were under consid- 
eration by the Union. He was often called upon to 
take the place as leader in the various movements in 
which the Union was engaged. 

The Union recognized him as being a man of the 
highest Christian character, who lived close to God, 
who was always ready to render any service in his 
power to God or man. 


Dr. Cecil was one of the leading men of the Pres- 
byterian Church, but his influence and his labors were 
not confined to that Church. He was always interested 
in and ready to help forward any movement that was 
for the welfare of the Church of God or of this city. 


MEMORIALS 29 





He was generous in the bestowal of his friendship, 
and the result was that he had many friends, who ad- 
mired and loved him. Evidence of the esteem in which 
he was held by his fellow ministers of the gospel was 
shown by the fact that there were in attendance upon 
his funeral services about seventy-five ministers of 
many denominations of the city and vicinity. 


As a preacher of the gospel he was sound and strong. 
He stood for ‘“‘the faith which was once for all de- 
livered to the saints,’ and there were many who 
delighted to hear him, as he delivered the messages 
which he received from God’s word, under the guid- 
ance of His Holy Spirit. 


The members of the Union cherish the memory of 
their delightful intercourse with Dr. Cecil, and feel 
that they have been greatly benefited by their associ- 
ation with him. They rejoice in the assurance that 
this beloved brother, who walked close with God on 
earth, is now with the Saviour, whom he so long loved 
and served here below, and that he has been called to 
a higher service above. 


The Union would express to the members of Dr. 
Cecil’s family its deepest and sincerest sympathy in 
this great affliction, which has come to them, and yet 
it rejoices that his loved ones do not have to mourn 
as those who have no hope; that they have the assur- 
ance that their loved one has gone to be with Jesus; 
and that they can find comfort in the thought that he 
is waiting in Heaven to receive them, when the Father 
shall say to each of them, “Come up hither.” 


To the Second Presbyterian Church, of which Dr. 


Cecil was pastor for twenty-five years, the Ministerial 


30 MEMORIALS 


Union offers its sympathy, while it rejoices in the good 
work that he did in and through the church, and the 
Union prays most earnestly that God may send them 
another pastor, who will be for it such a shepherd and 
leader as he whom God has called away, and that 
together they may carry on the work laid down by 
Dr. Cecil. 


MEMORIAL 


Adopted by the Board of Managers of the 
Bible Society of Virginia 


THE Members of the Board of Managers of the 
Bible Society of Virginia desire to put upon the records 
of the Society the following testimonial expressive of 
their appreciation of the character and worth of the 


late Dr. Russell Cecil: 


Few men in the history of Richmond have been more 
universally beloved and admired by its citizens, or 
have made a more lasting impression for righteousness 
upon the city than Dr. Cecil. He did not have the 
prestige of a native Virginian, having been born in 
Kentucky and having spent the greater part of his life 
out of the state, but so thoroughly was he in accord with 
all that was best and noblest in Virginia, that from the 
time he came to Richmond to be Pastor of the Second 
Presbyterian Church in 1900, he was so ideally Vir- 
ginian that no one would have supposed he had not 
been born and brought up here. 


Dr. Cecil was blessed with a splendid mind which 
had had all the advantages of college training under 
the best masters. He was a graduate of Princeton 
University and of Princeton Theological Seminary. 


So finely balanced was his mind and so firmly estab- 
lished was his faith that the many cults and isms of 
the present day which shake the faith of so many, 
never disturbed him in the least. To him there could 
be no conflict between science and religion, both were 
from the same God, and if there seemed irreconcilable 


32 MEMORIALS 


now, further knowledge of science would clear up the 


difficulty. 


No shadow of doubt as to the truth of the Scriptures 
ever passed across his mind. He saw in the Holy Bible 
the Word of God, and here God spoke, and that was 
the end of controversy. So being convinced himself, 
he necessarily convinced others, and his preaching car- 
ried all the winsome persuasiveness which came from 
his unbounded faith, his strong mentality and a gentle- 
ness which he had gained by a living union with Jesus 
Christ. Dr. Cecil was a Presbyterian by conviction. 
He believed that of all church government Presby- 
terianism was the best, and because of this belief, he 
was a Presbyterian with all his heart. But that did 
not make him blind to what was good and apostolic 
and Christlike in other churches. He could and did 
mingle with his brethren other than Presbyterian. He 
joined them and took part in their services, and he 
was that affable, genial, agreeable brother minister that 
one loved to be with and regretted to part from. 


His own church, in the many honorable positions to 
which it elected him, showed how highly it appreciated 
his many sterling qualities, and the other churches gen- 
erally, as well as the citizens at large, were always 
ready to do him honor, as seen in the many important 
assemblies when he was called to be their spokesman. 


We members of the Virginia Bible Society need not 
stress what he was to this organization. We know 
how long and how efficiently he served on this Board, 
and how ready he was to perform any duty; how 
wrapped up his heart was in the work of the Society, 
and how he prayed and labored for its success. 


MEMORIALS 33 


“He has fought a good fight, he has finished his 
course, he has kept the faith.” He has fallen asleep in 
Christ, leaving the heritage of a good name and an 
example worthy of being followed by all.’ 


MEMORIAL 


Adopted by the Executive Committee of the 
Million Dollar Campaign for Christian Education of the 
Synod of Virginia 


W HEREAS, it has pleased our Heavenly Father, in 
His inscrutable wisdom, to take from the sphere of his 
earthly labors our friend and associate on this Com- 


mittee, Rev. Russell Cecil, D. D. 
Be it Resolved; First, That in the death of Dr. Cecil 


this Committee has sustained the loss of one of its 
most devoted and efficient members, one who was 
always wise and prudent in counsel, courteous and con- 
siderate in his relationship with his co-workers, alert 
to every movement for the advancement of the cause 
of Christ and loyal to every interest committed to him. 
It was a pleasure and a privilege to have been associ- 
ated with him in the work of this Committee, and his 
place will not be easily filled. 

We are grateful to God for his life and work, which 
will ever be an inspiration to those of us who remain. 

“Servant of God, well done! 
Rest from thy loved employ, 


The battie fought, the victory won, 
Enter thy Master’s joy.” 


Second, That we extend to his family our deep and 
heartfelt sympathy in our common loss, praying that 
the God of all comfort will be especially near to them 
in the hour of their sorrow. 

Third, That a copy of these resolutions be spread in 
the minutes of this Committee to become a part of its 
permanent records, and that a copy be sent to the 
family. 


A TRIBUTE to 
REV. RUSSELL CECIL, D.D. 


Adopted by the Presbyterian Ministers’ Association 


IN view of the departing of our honored and beloved 
brother, Rev. Dr. Russell Cecil, Pastor of the Second 
Presbyterian Church of Richmond, Va., to be with 
his Lord and ours, the Presbyterian Ministers Associ- 
ation of this city records the following tribute to his 
memory: 

On June 15, 1925, after a brief illness, Dr. Cecil 
was called from the ministries of a busy and influential 
pastorate ‘‘to be with Christ,” and to receive “a crown 
of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge 
shall give.” 

This Association will ever cherish, with grateful re- 
membrance, his varied and distinguished services to 
the Church and to the world in every department of 
his sacred calling. 

As a pastor he was watchful and eminently helpful. 
As a friend he was true, cordial and generous. As a 
counsellor he was responsive, wise and sympathetic. 
As a citizen he was an exemplar of righteous living. 
As a teacher he loved to set forth and was a master 
of doctrine. As an evangelist he was fervent and elo- 
quent. As a preacher of “‘the glorious gospel” he was 
strong, tender and convincing. Asa presbyter he loved 
the organic life of the Church and addressed himself 
with diligence and effectiveness to her welfare. In 
her councils and courts the weight of his opinions and 
the force of his discussions received church-wide recog- 
nition. 


36 MEMORIALS 


eee rene are cere en setae wereerenenenn nee enarencnas on ae: 





In all the relations of life Dr. Cecil seemed to ap- 
proximate the standard of a specialist, ever addressing 
himself with diligence, sound judgment and abiding 
enthusiasm to the tasks assigned him, and the ideals 
to the attainment of which he summoned the varied 
talents with which he was endowed. 

If we seek the sources of his wide usefulness and 
abundant Jabors, they may be found in his well-rounded 
and mature culture; in his great heart of sympathy, 
responsive to human need, wherever found; in his 
zeal for truth, justice, reverence and every human vir- 
tue; in his energy and fidelity in the discharge of every 
duty and the accomplishment of every worthy task. 
The unity of these under divine grace may interpret 
much of the story of his consecrated life. 

To the family of Dr. Cecil and to all to whom he 
was bound by ties of friendship and affection, this As- 
sociation extends its warmest sympathy, while treasur- 
ing with them the memory of his full orbed ministry, 
his splendid talents, and his eminent service to the 
Church, to humanity and supremely to his gracious 


Lord. 


“Servant of God, well done! 
Rest from thy loved employ; 
The battle fought, the victory won, 
Enter thy Master’s joy.” 


His body was laid away, as resting on the shield of 
his faith, in beautiful Hollywood, there to sleep in 
Jesus, until that great day, when, responsive to his 
Master’s call, spirit and body shall again be one, and 
so shall he be ever with his Lord. 


As in life he counted it a joy to live for Him, who 
died and rose again, so in death he was unafraid. 


MEMORIAL 


Adopted by the Executive Committee of the 


Union Theological Seminary in Virginia 


"THE Executive Committee of Union Theological 
Seminary is greatly bereaved in the death of Rev. Rus- 
sell Cecil, D. D., for many years one of its most active 
and highly honored and greatly beloved members. 
Recognizing the value of theological training for our 
preachers, Dr. Cecil from the moment he came to 
Richmond as the pastor of the Second Presbyterian 
Church which he served so long and so successfully, 
gave of his time and energy and influence to Union 
Seminary. As soon as a vacancy occurred on the Board 
of Trustees, which naturally should be filled by a Rich- 
mond minister, Dr. Cecil was chosen by the Synod of 
Virginia as the one to fill that vacancy, and the whole 
Synod was delighted to have that opportunity and priv- 
ilege. 

‘At once Dr. Cecil’s worth as a wise and judicious 
counsellor was recognized, and he logically was forced 
by the Board of Trustees into the front rank of leader- 
ship in its deliberations and actions. He was imme- 
diately placed on the Executive Committee, perhaps 
the most important of the Committees of the Board. 
On this Committee he served most wisely, efficiently, 
giving freely of his time, ability, and judgment which 
have been of the greatest value to the Board and to the 
Committee and to the Seminary. Notwithstanding all 
the demands made upon him by his large and most 
influential church and by the many organizations of the 


38 MEMORIALS 


ae cn ne ne 


city where he was honored and greatly beloved, Dr. 
Cecil was ever ready, though often at a sacrifice, to 
respond to the calls of the Executive Committee and 
Seminary. The Executive Committee, therefore, de- 
sires to place on record in this brief form its high ap- 
preciation of his valuable service and its sense of the 
irreparable loss, which the Committee and Seminary 
and the entire church have sustained in his going from 
us. 


“Dr. Cecil was an effective preacher of the Old 
Gospel which he loved, believed and lived. As a pas- 
tor, he was a welcome visitor to the people, bringing en- 
couragement, cheer, comfort, and new hope. Honored 
among men of all creeds, he witnessed to and for the 
truth in a way that never repelled but always attracted. 
As a Presbyter, with that fine, clear, judicial poise of 
mind, he rendered decisions in a manner that brought 
conviction to all who listened and gave satisfaction to 
all concerned. He was characterized by a conservatism 
that was progressive yet safe and sane. He listened 
to and respected the opinions of those who differed 
with him, and by his gentle manner and lovable spirit 
won and held the respect and admiration of all who 
came in contact with him. 


‘Fle was sympathetic, especially with the young, to 
an unusual degree; and the young men preparing for 
the ministry, many of whom attended his church, and 
his younger brethren in the ministry found in him a 
friend and brother whose brotherly esteem, advice, 
friendship, and fellowship were beyond price, as well 
as a wonderful incentive in their work. 


MEMORIALS 39 


‘As an author and also writer for the Church 
papers, he expressed himself clearly, succinctly, effec- 
tively, and his opinions carried much weight whenever 
they were expressed, for the people understood in him 
one who was always honest with the truth. Above all, 
Dr. Cecil was a man of God. In it all, he manifested 
a spirit of humility, for he walked and talked with God. 
His desire was to do the will of the Master for the 
Master’s honor and glory. 


‘These talents and wonderful characteristics Dr. 
Cecil brought to the Seminary, through the Executive 
Committee and the Board of Trustees, and used them 
unreservedly to the building up of our beloved institu- 
tion. 


“The Executive Committee expresses its deepest 
sympathy with the family, the Second Presbyterian 
Church, the Seminary, and the entire Southern Presby- 
terian Church in the great loss that has been sustained 
by his removal at the call of the Master. 


‘We bow in submission to His will and pray for the 
realization of the statement that ‘God buries the work- 
man but carries on the work.’ 


‘In conclusion it may be said of Dr. Cecil, as 
preacher, teacher, pastor, writer, trustee, man, in the 
language of some writer: 


“He held the lamp of truth that day 
So low that none could miss the way; 
And yet so high to bring in sight 
That picture fair—The World’s Great Light, 
That gazing up—the lamp between— 
The hand that held it scarce was seen. 


40 


MEMORIALS 


“He held the pitcher, stooping low 
To lips of little ones below; 
Then raised it to the weary saint 
And bade him drink when sick and faint. 
They drank—the pitcher thus between— 
The hand that held it scarce was seen. 


“He blew the trumpet soft and clear, 
That trembling sinners need not fear; 
And then with louder note and bold, 
To raze the walls of Satan’s hold. ~ 
The trumpet coming thus between, 
‘The hand that held it scarce was seen. 


“And when the Master said, ‘Well done, 

Thou good and faithful servant, come! 

Lay down the pitcher and the lamp, 

Lay down the trumpet, leave the camp!’ 

‘The weary hand—ah, then ’twas seen 

Clasped in those Pierced Hands, naught between.” 


Slemorial Service 


Second Presbyterian Church 


AV MEMORIAL service for the late Rev. Dr. Rus- 
sell Cecil was held Sunday afternoon, November 8, 
1925, in the Church, the purpose of which was to pay 
tribute to his work as a minister and citizen, not only 
in his own Church and the other Presbyterian Churches 
of Richmond, but his influence for sane, sound views 
for the greatest good of all of the Evangelical 
Churches. 


Rev. W. L. Lingle, D. D., presided at this meeting, 
at which the following addresses were delivered: 


INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 


By Rev. Walter L. Lingle, D. D., L.L D. 


President of the 
General Assembly's Training School for Lay Workers 


WE have come together to pay tribute to the mem- 
ory of a man whom we all loved and honored. For 
twenty-five years Dr. Cecil stood in this pulpit and 
preached with persuasiveness and power the pure 
Gospel of Jesus Christ. For twenty-five years he went 
in and out among this people as their pastor, radiating 
good cheer and Christianity wherever he went. The 
members of this Church loved him devotedly, as the 
presence of this large audience testifies. 


42 MEMORIALS 


The elders, the deacons, the Vanguard Bible Class, 
and the Woman’s Auxiliary of this Church have all 
passed appropriate resolutions expressing their love 
and devotion. These resolutions, along with others, 
will be published in a memorial volume in the near 
future. 

I once heard Dr. W. T. Ellis, the distinguished trav- 
eler and writer, say that the minister’s greatest tempta- 
tion is to think only in terms of his own parish. If 
Dr. Cecil ever had such a temptation he did not yield 
to it. His interests and influence went far beyond his 
own congregation and beyond his own denomination. 

While wandering through Westminster Abbey last 
summer I came across a tablet in memory of John 
Wesley. On it were engraved a number of his great 
sayings. Among them was this one: ‘“The world 1s 
my parish.”’ That might have been written of Dr. 
Cecil. 

There are on the program this afternoon speakers 
who will tell of the labors and influence of Dr. Cecil 
in large branches of the Church’s work which lay be- 
yond his immediate congregation and beyond his own 
denomination, and your Committee on Arrangements 
has very graciously asked me to preside and present 
these speakers. 

Dr. Cecil was deeply interested in the whole work 
of the Presbyterian Church in the City of Richmond, 
and through the Presbytery, the Presbyterian League, 
and every available channel, did all in his power to 
promote the work of every Presbyterian Church and 
every Presbyterian mission in the city. Rev. W. L. 
Carson, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, will 
speak on “Dr. Cecil’s Work in the Denomination.” 


MEMORIALS 43 


His interest in Presbyterianism went far beyond 
Richmond. It was as wide as the Church itself, and 
through many avenues he served the whole Church. 
He was a man whom our Church delighted to honor. 
In 1911 he was elected Moderator of the General As- 
sembly. Very frequently the General Assembly elected 
him to positions of honor and service. For many 
years he was a member of the General Assembly’s 
Executive Committee of Publication and Sabbath 
School Work, and for a number of years he was Chair- 
man of this Committee. In this connection he ren- 
dered a large service. Rev. O. E. Buchholz, D. D., 
Professor of Missions and Evangelism in the General 
Assembly’s Training School for Lay Workers will rep- 
resent the Committee of Publication and speak of “Dr. 
Cecil’s Work on the Committee of Publication.” 

In the City of Richmond is located Union Theologi- 
cal Seminary, one of the greatest Presbyterian institu- 
tions in the world. For the past hundred years it has 
been educating the majority of all the ministers in the 
Southern Presbyterian Church. For many years Dr. 
Cecil was a member of the Board of Trustees and a 
member of the Executive Committee of Union Theo- 
logical Seminary, and in this connection rendered a 
large and unselfish service. Rev. Edward Mack, D. 
D., LL. D., McCormick Professor of Hebrew and the 
Interpretation of the Old Testament, in the Seminary, 
will speak on ‘Dr. Cecil's Work in Connection With 
Union Theological Seminary.” 

Dr. Cecil’s interest crossed denominational lines. 
He was ready to co-operate with all evangelical inter- 
denominational movements. He was deeply interested 


in ‘“The World’s Conference of Faith and Order,” 


44 MEMORIALS 


whose purpose it is to cultivate a spirit of brotherhood 
and co-operation among the various churches of the 
world. 

At the time of his death he was Chairman of The 
Permanent Committee on the Bible Cause, and a mem- 
ber of the Advisory Council of the American Bible 
Society, which is an inter-denominational organization 
for the printing and dissemination of the Word of God 
throughout the world. 

He was loved and honored by ministers and mem- 
bers of all denominations throughout this city. Rev. 
H. D. C. MacLachlan, D. D., Pastor of the Seventh 
Street Christian Church, will speak on “Dr. Cecil’s 
Relation to Brother Ministers in Other Denomina- 
tions.” 

When I remember that Dr. Cecil was pastor of this 
Church, and then look at the various other lines of 
Christian activities in which he was engaged, I wonder 
how he did it all. Yet he did it in a way that was 
effective and unhurried. 

We thank God that such a man lived and labored 
in our midst, and that we knew and loved him. Dr. 
S. H. Chester, in speaking to me once of his love for 
another pastor in Richmond, said: “It is a great com- 
fort to me when I think of the kind of people I love.” 
It is of great comfort to us when we remember that 
we loved a man like Dr. Cecil, and that he loved us. 
The most fitting prayer that we can make today is 
that we may have a double portion of his spirit. 


DR. CECIL’S SERVICES and 
INFLUENCE 72 the 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH of 
RICHMOND, VA. 


By Rev. W. L. Carson, 
Pastor First Presbyterian Church, Richmond, Va. 


DURING the last twenty-five years Presbyterianism 
in Richmond has had no more loyal supporter, no wiser 
counselor, no more capable leader, no more’ zealous 
servant than Dr. Cecil. 

As the Pastor of one of our largest and most influ- 
ential Churches he has been responsible for building 
up and organizing a congregation that is a credit to 
our denomination. The Second Presbyterian Church 
is a powerful factor in all the affairs of Presbyterian- 
ism in the city. There is a sense in which this great 
congregation is a monument to Dr. Cecil’s labors. It 
is true that he did not found it; an illustrious prede- 
cessor did that. But during Dr. Cecil’s ministry the 
Church has increased its strength, acquired a deeper 
piety, and has grown in the grace of Christian lib- 
erality. His sermons have been the food upon which 
the life of the congregation has been nourished; love 
for him has been one of the bonds that has bound the 
congregation together; his unwavering faith and deep 
personal piety have ever been sources of inspiration; 
and his sane leadership has guided the Church in all 
of its great undertakings. The stamp of his person- 
ality is indelibly printed upon this congregation. 


46 MEMORIALS 


—-———-—.. 


Dr. Cecil was a far-sighted ecclesiastical statesman. 
He believed in colonization rather than in centraliza- 
tion. He had a large share in establishing and fos- 
tering new churches in growing sections of our city. 
When his own members left his Church to take places 
of leadership in these young organizations, he forgot 
his own loss in his rejoicing over the gain of the cause 
of Christ. His friendship and support encouraged 
these congregations and their pastors in times of ad- 
versity. His influence procured funds to tide them 
over periods of emergency. He was generous in giv- 
ing his time and energy to them in evangelistic meetings 
and other services. When the Presbyterian League 
was organized with a view to taking over the local 
extension work in our denomination, Dr. Cecil was 
one of its most enthusiastic supporters, one of its 
wisest counselors, and, until the day of his death, was 
one of its most faithful workers. He never allowed 
his interest in his own congregation, nor his ambition 
for its growth to interfere with his support of the 
general interests of the denomination at large through- 
out the city. 

As an associate and friend, Dr. Cecil contributed 
largely to the pleasure and usefulness of his brethren 
in the ministry. His transparent unselfishness was a 
quiet but effective rebuke to all ambitious self-seeking. 
His unquenchable optimism was a tonic to those who 
were discouraged. His warm sympathy was a balm 
to hearts bruised by adversity. His fine judgment was 
a safeguard against errors of ignorance and impetu- 
osity. During the latter years of his ministry his posi- 
tion among the Presbyterian ministers was almost 
unique. He was the oldest minister in years. He was 


MEMORIALS 47 


the oldest in point of service. His ripe experience and 
his familiarity with local affairs made his judgment 
invaluable wherever denominational plans were being 
made or denominational policies were being mapped 
out. His brethren relied upon his wisdom, and looked 
to him for counsel on all occasions. They loved him 
devotedly, looking upon him as a spiritual father. 

In the affairs of the city, Dr. Cecil always reflected 
honor and credit upon the denomination to which he 
belonged. Whether in movements which involved co- 
operation with the other denominations, or in meet- 
ings of benevolent organizations, or in social gather- 
ings, he always bore himself in such a way as to lead 
others to respect the Church which he represented, and 
to cause his own denomination to be proud of its rep- 
resentative. 

These are some of the services which Dr. Cecil has 
rendered to Presbyterianism in Richmond. The mem- 
bers of our denomination may well thank God upon 
their every remembrance of him. ~ 


An APPRECIATION 


from the 
Executive Committee of Publication and Sabbath School Work 


By Rev. O. E. Buchholz, D. D. 


LIFE’s greatest achievement is a CHRISTIAN 
PERSONALITY. When an outstanding CHRIS- 
TIAN lives among us for a quarter of a century and 
then is called to his eternal home at the age of seventy- 
two, we see and we feel his immeasurable value to 
humanity and to the Kingdom of God. As the weeks 
and the months go by since his home-going we see more 
clearly and we feel more deeply the abiding worth of 
his rich and rounded personality—a personality which 
has stood the tests of early discipline and training, of 
embarrassing popularity, of toilsome service, and of 
suffering and death. 

These few words express the viewpoint and embody 
the feelings of the Executive Committee of Publication 
and Sabbath School Work of the Southern Presby- 
terian Church concerning the late Rev. Russell Cecil, 


D. D. 


He served as a member of the Publication Commit- 
tee from 1901 to 1919, and as its Chairman from 1919 
until the day of his departure. His radiant and glow- 
ing personality was one of the inspiring features of 
each meeting of the Committee. Self-pity never found 
expression on his lips and selfishness was banished from 
his life by love. He was neither lax nor hard in his 
relation with others, but he endeavored to practice 
unceasingly the Golden Rule which was the subject of 


MEMORIALS 49 


his last written sermon. He united the highest culture 
with the widest human interests, and he was thereby 
equipped to receive sympathetically and to solve wisely 
the dificult problems which arose from the deeper 
levels of the Church’s life. His knowledge and wis- 
dom and patience and love brought him to the highest 
post as Chairman of the Publication Committee, a 
place of pre-eminent influence in shaping the policies 
for the printing and distribution of Christian literature 
and in guiding the work of Religious Education in the 
entire Southern Presbyterian Church. 

The following excerpt was taken from the Minutes 
of the Committee at the meeting of October 6th, 1925: 
“The officials and all the members of the Executive 
Committee will ever hold as a precious memory their 
association with Dr. Cecil through these years of ser- 
vice, and we desire to record our deep sense of loss 
in the home-going of this princely servant of God. 
The Church has lost a loyal and efficient worker, his 
family a devoted husband and father, and the com- 
munity an illustrious and useful citizen, but all are the 
richer for his life and example.” | 


DR. CECIL’S SERVICES to 
UNION THEOLOGICAL 
SEMINARY 


By Rev. Edward Mack, D.D. 
Professor Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, Va. 


Dr. CECIL’s versatility of gifts, and his unselfish 
and impartial helpfulness, will keep his name in the 
lasting and grateful remembrance of the trustees, fac- 
ulty and students of our largest Theological Seminary. 
Not a single good cause of the Church or Community 
failed of his interest and support. A great heart, a 
wise mind, and an unselfish purpose to serve, made him 
the friend of all holy and kindly undertakings. Wher- 
ever Christ’s work was, there his heart was to be found 
in sympathy, and his hand wrought in strength. 


Although always under requisition for service in so 
many other causes and spheres: as pastor, presbyter, 
community leader, author, citizen; he found time, how- 
ever, to serve in another field of activity. His devoted 
life was so endowed with talents, so vigorous and so 
well-organized, he was ready and equipped to answer 
the call of duty in any place of need. To his many 
other lines of Christian work he added yet another: 
devotion to Christ and achievement for Him in the 
wide sphere of Christian Education. 


Although graduated from another Theolowical Sem- 
inary (Princeton), which often honored him with ex- 
pressions of confidence and positions of trust, electing 
him at one time president of its Alumni Association, 


MEMORIALS 51 


yet from the beginning of his ministry in Richmond, 
he gave his sympathy and co-operation to Union Theo- 
logical Seminary because he recognized its strategic 
position in the activities of our Southern Church, and 
its inestimable value in the cause of World Evangeliza- 
tion. Staunch conservative that he was and at the 
same time a warm hearted evangelical, he appreciated 
the happy combination in a great Seminary of those 
two noble ideals: sound evangelical doctrine and fer- 
vent enthusiasm for world evangelism. 

Himself a widely and thoroughly educated man, his 
interest in Christian Education was always alert and 
active. All of our Church schools and educational in- 
stitutions, centering 1n Richmond, are under debt to 
his greatness and goodness. For years he was Chair- 
man of the Executive Committee of Publication and 
Sunday School Work, which sends out its teaching and 
training influences into every part of our Southland. 
For some years he taught with ability, classes in Chris- 
tian Theology in our Assembly’s Training School, a 
by-product of such service in that institution being the 
publication of his useful Handbook of Theology. 

Here it is appropriate to call to mind the rich con- 
tribution of this Church of which he was pastor, to the 
building up and direction of our Seminary. ‘The Presi- 
dent of its Board is an Elder of this Church. The be- 
loved George L. Christian served for many years as 
Vice-President of the Board. One of its beloved Dea- 
cons as a member of the Finance Committee. And each 
year a young man of distinction from the graduating 
class continues in a year of graduate study his prep- 
aration for a life of highest service in the Church on 
the foundation of the Moses D. Hoge Fellowship. 


52 MEMORIALS 


From the moment Dr. Cecil entered the pastorate 
of the Second Presbyterian Church in Richmond his 
attitude was that of cordial friendship, and as the 
years passed he came to be one of the trusted advisers, 
although for the first years of his pastorate he had no 
oficial connection with the Seminary. At a critical 
time he rendered a very great service to the Seminary, 
and one which must have cost him a heavy personal 
sacrifice, in filling through one session the Chair of 
Church History, when, following the death of Dr. 
Strickler, Dr. Johnson had been transferred from that 
Chair to the Chair of Theology. 

The Synod conferred honor on itself and rendered 
a signal benefit to the Seminary when it elected him 
a member of the Seminary Board of Directors in 1918, 
in which office he continued to the lamented end of his 
life. After his election, he was promptly made a mem- 
ber of the Executive Committee, to which he became 
a tower of strength. This Committee found him both 
so wise and so willing to lay himself out in the work 
that they soon came to rely upon his sound judgment 
and to shape their course largely by his advice. ‘The 
last public service rendered by him was attendance 
upon a meeting of the Executive Committee of the 
Seminary on Friday, June 12th. That very evening 
he was stricken, but the good which he accomplished 
at that meeting will be of far-reaching benefit to the 
seminary. His scholarship and balanced judgment led 
to his appointment as a member of the Board’s Cur- 
riculum Committee, of which he was also Chairman 
for a time. He also served on many special commit- 
tees, and performed many individual services which 
called for a man of tact and wisdom and gentleness. 


MEMORIALS 53 


And so his time, his talents and his great human in- 
terest have been inwrought into the remarkable growth 
of our great Seminary, to be a part of its service to 
mankind for all time. | 

There are certain precious Bible texts which we shall 
ever associate with Dr. Cecil: 

“The righteous shall be had in everlasting remem- 
brance.”’ 

“They that are teachers shall shine as the brightness 
of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteous- 
ness as the stars forever and ever.”’ 

“I have had much joy and comfort in thy love, 
brother, because the hearts of the saints have been 
refreshed by thee.” 


An APPRECIATION 


Dr. Cecil and the Ministerial Union of Richmond, Va. 
By the Rev. H. C. MacLachlan, D.D. 


W HEN I came to Richmond, seventeen and a half 
years ago, the outstanding leader in the interdenomi- 
national life of Richmond was Dr. Cecil. He was not 
only never absent from the meetings of the Ministerial 
Association, when they were held in the old Presby- 
terian Building, but was always an outstanding figure 
in them. One of my vivid recollections is the promi- 
nent part played by him in the Chapman Evangelistic 
meetings. I recall that a committee representative of 
all the evangelical denominations went to Norfolk to 
secure Dr. Chapman’s services. I believe, even yet, 
I can name that committee. Baptist, Dr. Ramsay; 
Episcopalian, Dr. James Clarke; Methodist, Dr. An- 
drew Christian; Lutheran, Dr. J. J. Scherer; Disciples, 
myself, and Presbyterian, Dr. Cecil. On the boat-trip 
across the sound I had my first real conversation with 
him. Our talk turned on preaching, and I remember 
as vividly as if it were yesterday the almost child-like 
glow with which Dr. Cecil spoke of the mysteries of 
sermon-building and the glory of preaching. He be- 
lieved in the pulpit. He magnified the ministry. He 
was absolutely certain that the kingdom of heaven must 
come, not by politics, economics, or social service— 
though he did not undervalue these in their place—but 
by the preaching of the Word. 

In one sense of the word, he was an old-time 
preacher. He was not afraid to preach theology, 


MEMORIALS «55 


therein following the lead of the greatest preachers of 
the past. He laid a burden on his hearers to think. 
He challenged them with the great facts of God, of the 
Incarnation, of the Holy Spirit, of the living Word. 
His thinking processes were always young, even if his 
conclusions were rooted in the past. He kept up with 
the latest theological books and enjoyed getting the 
newest thought in that realm, even though his own 
thinking was of a very different school. He never 
feared for the Ark of the Covenant. He had no classi- 
fication of ‘‘fundamentalist’’ or ‘modernist’? for his 
brethren, realizing that we are all saved by faith and 
not by theological opinion. 

While a staunch Presbyterian, he was notably sym- 
pathetic in his attitude towards his brethren of other 
Communions. In every new movement he was a 
trusted leader. Always he could be counted on to 
espouse the cause of Christian charity and tolerance. 
No harsh word ever passed the portals of his lips. He 
had a large patience, a big heart even for his brethren 
(as he supposed) in error. I can think of no occasion © 
in which the Protestant forces of Richmond were called 
upon to bear united witness that Dr. Cecil was not in 
the van of the host. 

Above all, his brethren of the other Communions 
trusted him. During the last ten years, no meeting 
of the Ministerial Association where any important 
question requiring tact or finesse in its handling, was 
complete without Dr. Cecil. His patience, his ripe 
wisdom, his knowledge of Church procedure, his con- 
sideration of others, his aptness in discerning the 
crucial point of a debate constituted a rich endowment, 
reminiscent of the words of the prophet to the excited, 


56 MEMORIALS 


rash and restless people of Jerusalem: “In quietness 
and confidence shall be your strength.” He was pre- 
eminently a man of counsel—a counsellor. I can see 
him now where he used to sit, in the arm-chair near 
the southeast corner of the room, and see the faces 
of the ministers turned expectantly towards him when 
he intervened in debate. His presence was the bal- 
ance-wheel of many sessions. | 

And now that he is gone, if his mantle has not yet 
fallen on another, at least his memory remains as a 
benediction and sets for all of his brethren whose locks 
are being touched with the snows of winter, the goal of 
a sure, wise, serene, hopeful and helpful old age. 

On him, and such as he, are the foundations of the 
kingdom laid. 


NEWSPAPER STATEMENTS 


Richmond clergymen associated with Dr. Cecil in 
Richmond commented on his death in statements to the 
newspapers as follows: 


Dr. GEorGE W. McDANIEL: 


“T have known Dr. Cecil over twenty years, and 
have associated with him in moral and Christian work. 
He was perhaps the best loved and most implicitly 
trusted member of the Ministerial Union. He has 
entered upon the rich Heavenly reward. I sorrow as 
one who has lost a faithful friend and fellow worker.”’ 


Dr. CHARLEs L. KING: 


‘Dr. Cecil approximated the New Testament ideal 
of a good minister of Jesus Christ. He was a man of 
God—a preacher of the Word. He made no apology 
for the Gospel he proclaimed. He magnified his call- 
ing. His life was a beautiful illustration of the power 
of the Gospel. The church can thank God for such 
a minister and pray that his spirit may abide upon those 
who carry on the work he loved. 

‘Many of us feel that we have lost our spiritual 
father.” 


Rev. J. N. Latuam, D. D.: 


“T feel that in the death of Dr. Cecil the community 
has suffered a great loss. He was an able preacher, 
a sympathetic pastor, and a friend of all the churches; 


58 MEMORIALS 


interested in everything pertaining to the spreading of 
the Kingdom of God. I feel a personal loss in his 


going.” 
Rev. WILLIAM E. Cox: 


“Personally, I was devoted to Dr. Cecil. He was 
one of the finest men I know anywhere, both as an 
individual and a Christian. Everybody loved Dr. 
Cecil.” 


EDITORIAL 


(Richmond Times-Dispatch) 


DReECE CIE 


For twenty-five years the Rev. Russell Cecil, A. B., 
A. M., D. D., clergyman, pastor and author, lived and 
ministered in Richmond. And never did one man more 
crowd a quarter of a century with good works, with 
kindly teaching and with modest leadership toward the 
right than did this good man. The degrees he earned 
from Princeton, the degree conferred upon him by 
Southwestern Presbyterian University, and the periods 
of study spent at the University of Edinburg and in 
Europe and the Orient indicate the profound scholar- 
ship of the teacher; the strength of his Church here in 
Richmond testifies to the power of his ministry and 
to the care he lavished upon his people as their pastor; 
and the respect and affection which he inspired in clergy 
and laity of other faiths constitute a living memorial 
to his concept of brotherhood in all faith. 

With all the gentle qualities he possessed, there was 
added a mind so clear, a vision so unclouded and a 
spirit so high that his counsel and his calm wisdom 
were called upon for service by the whole of the Pres- 
byterian Church, South. As moderator, as chairman 
of executive committees—including the Committee on 
Publication and the Committee of his Church in the 
World Conference on Faith and Order—Dr. Cecil was 
summoned to the aid and guidance of his church time 
after time. Indeed, he was moderator of every court 
in the Presbyterian Church, South, at the same time— 


60 MEMORIALS 


a distinction never held by any other, it is believed, of 
the Southern Presbyterian Church. 

So, then, he wrought mightily in the church at large. 
But always he wrought gently: because, partly, of his 
education in the North, he sought always to bring 
about closer relations between his and the Northern 
Church; because of his lofty spirit, he strove to recon- 
cile what might have been warring elements; because 
he was a faithful follower, he spoke the softer word. 
He was a mediator, as well as a moderator. He could 
afford to speak the softer word, because all his preach- 
ing, all his teaching, all his ministry and all his pas- 
torate, were based on an unswerving belief in the eter- 
nal principles to which he and his Church held: never 
an unsound sentence passed his lips. 

Yet he was not stern, but kindly; he was not cold, 
but tender; he was not forbidding, but warm. To the 
end of his long and beautiful life—‘‘So walked he from 
his birth, in simpleness and gentleness and honour and 
clean mirth.” 

Surely, too, another part of another line is true of 
him: That when yesterday he died, ‘He trod that day 
to God.” —Richmond Times-Dispatch. 


EDITORIAL 


(Richmond News Leader) 


HE SPARED NOT HIMSELF 


Dr. Russell Cecil stinted nothing he ever did. 

Thoroughly schooled, he read widely and ceaselessly 
and never superficially. When he put down a book, 
he had wrung it dry. All that it contained of fact 
worth remembering, he had made part of himself. In 
preparing his sermons and public addresses, thorough- 
ness seemed instinctive. People who listened to him 
for more than twenty years never knew him to enter 
his pulpit unready for his sermon. The sheep looked 
up and always were fed. He held to the tradition of 
direct delivery, without the tricks of oratory, and he 
stooped to no sensationalism of theme or manner, but 
he set a standard of thoughtful, scholarly ministration 
that no Richmond preacher of his generation excelled 
and only one or two ever rivaled. A worshipper could 
always be sure that he would leave the Second Pres- 
byterian, after Dr. Cecil’s sermon, strengthened in 
truth that had been persuasively and intelligently set 
forth. 

Similar was the spirit he displayed in his pastoral 
labors and in the work of his denomination. When he 
visited, it was for service and not merely for courtesy. 
If he accepted responsibility as trustee or as director, 
he discharged it patiently. Intellectually and spirit- 
ually, his house was always in order. His desk in his 
study, one may be sure, was left on Saturday with each 
paper in place. And in his locker, no doubt, where he 


62 MEMORIALS 


put his sticks after his last round at his beloved golf, 
everything was precisely where it belonged. 

His life bespoke obedience to conscience and a 
superb sincerity that were bound up with an inspiring 
intellectual honesty. Dr. Cecil had held the highest 
office in the Presbyterian Church, that of moderator 
of the General Assembly of the entire denomination— 
an office that goes only to those the whole brotherhood 
trusts. Yet he was not afraid to give Huxley and 
Tyndall a place on his shelves, and in his theology he 
was convinced, yet tolerant. He could “hear the other 
side’ and neither be thrown back to over-conservatism 
nor swept into hasty theological radicalism. He was 
an admirable interpreter of old truth in new com- 
plexities because his intellectual honesty never failed 
him and never was hobbled by fear or by prejudice. 
He knew ‘‘on whom he had believed.” 

The closer one stood to him, the taller he seemed 
in spirit. The better one knew him, the more one 
respected his piety. There was something beautifully 
personal about his faith. You felt that, though he was 
able to make God very real in comfort and in hope to 
those in distress, he had a still closer fellowship him- 
_ self. When he came from his own chamber, after his 
private devotions, you found yourself looking for the 
light on his countenance that is given to those who 
have been in the very Presence. 

He came to Richmond when he was 47. The Second 
Presbyterian was his fourth pastorate. It was a heavy 
charge, for between him and the great Moses D. Hoge 
there had been only one brief ministry, in a period of 
dificult adjustment. Those who were privileged to 
have his company knew how he prepared himself that 


MEMORIALS 63 


summer of 1900 for the responsibility he was assum- 
ing. He spent three months in prayer. When at 
length he took up his duties it was with a zeal that 
two-score years and more in no wise lessened. Rich- 
mond moved westward. The Gothic building atop 
Fifth Street hill became a downtown church. Dr. 
Hoge’s familiar house that seemed as tall and as gaunt 
as he, was knocked over in order that an office-building 
and apartment might have the land. The friendly 
neighborhoods were broken up. Dr. Cecil held his 
ground and yielded nothing to time or change. Truth 
was eternal. He held fast to it. 

Now that he is dead, perhaps they will undertake a 
removal the congregation would not have considered 
in his lifetime. A new Second Presbyterian may rise 
in the district where most of its members reside. But 
if the change comes, it will not hurt him, for though 
he preached in the Church, he preached to his audience, 
and deep in their hearts, far down in the cortices that 
give men their outlook on life, he will live and will 


speak.—Richmond News Leader. 


EDITORIAL 


(The Presbyterian of the South) 


Rev. Dr. Russell Cecil has completed his work on 
earth and has gone to his higher work in heaven. On 
Saturday evening, June 13th, he was reading over the 
manuscript of the sermon he had prepared for Sunday, 
when the summons came without any premonition. 
For forty-eight hours he tarried before leaving loved 
ones and friends to join his Saviour in His Heavenly 
home. Few men have ever been better prepared to 
answer the call, and few have ever deserved more 
the plaudit of the Saviour, ‘Well done, good and faith- 
ful servant.’’ Dr. Cecil was pre-eminently a man of 
God. He lived near to Him, as his life showed. A 
Christian business man of this city said to a friend one 
day, “I do not know Dr. Cecil personally, but I am 
always glad to see him pass my office window. He 
preaches a sermon as he walks on the street.”” There 
are hundreds of others who would say the same thing. 

He was faithful to God and to his fellowman. He 
willingly and earnestly performed every duty as it was 
presented to him. His first thought always was as to 
what he could do for the advancement of the kingdom 
of God. He preached the pure gospel of salvation 
through faith in the crucified Saviour. His preaching 
was practical and carried its message to the hearts and 
minds of his hearers. He was faithful and loyal to 
the doctrines and the sentiments of the Southern Pres- 
byterian Church. 

In recognition of his character and his services, his 
Church conferred on him many honors. This was 


MEMORIALS 65 


strikingly shown, when in 1911 and 1912 he had the 
experience, probably unique in the history of the world, 
of being the moderator of four Church courts at the 
Same time. ‘These courts were the Session of the 
Second Church, Richmond, the Presbytery of East 
Hanover, the Synod of Virginia and the General As- 
sembly of the Southern Presbyterian Church. 

He was so wise and efficient as a member of these 
courts that he was placed upon, often as chairman of, 
many of their most important committees and commis- 
sions. He was always regular in his attendance upon 
the sessions of these courts, ever showing a deep in- 
terest in all of the business that came before them. 
He did not talk a great deal in the discussions of the 
business, but when he did speak he showed a clearness 
of conception and grasp that was very noticeable and 
which usually carried conviction to his hearers. He 
was quiet and gentle in his manner and in all of his 
bearing. 

He was considerate of the feelings and opinions of 
others. He was true, sincere and sympathetic in his 
friendship. No one ever went to him for counsel, 
advice or comfort who came away disappointed at his 
reception. He was a man whom men admired and 
loved. 

For nearly a half a century he served the church as 
pastor and preacher, as presbyter and writer. For 
twenty-five years he had been the pastor of the Second 
Church of Richmond, where he proved himself a strong 
and wise leader, of a strong church. 

His impress has been made deeply upon this as upon 
each of the congregations that he served, upon this 
whole city and upon the Church at large. His going 


66 MEMORIALS 


has left an aching void in many a heart and many va- 
cancies in the Church. Those who knew him best loved 
him most and felt his loss the deepest. They will 
cherish his memory, rejoice that he was their friend 
and be thankful that the association which was so dear 
on earth shall be renewed in the Father’s home above, 
where there shall be no parting of friends. 


ADDRESS 


Delivered by Mr. John S. Munce Before the Woman's 
Auxiliary of the Second Presbyterian Church 


“Mark the perfect man and behold the upright; for the 
end of that man is peace.” 


“And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, 
for God took him.” 


"THESE two passages from God’s Word epitomize 
the life of him in whose memory we are met today. 

It is for many of us a new experience we are going 
through as a Church; in its eighty years of existence 
this is only the second time the Church has had to 
mourn the death of a pastor—the beloved Dr. Hoge, 
in the year 1899, and now Dr. Cecil, who entered into 
rest June 15, 1925. Dr. Hoge was pastor for fifty- 
four years, Dr. Guthrie for less than a year, Dr. Cecil 
for twenty-five years; three, we may say, only, two 
pastors in eighty years. What a record! Unique in 
the annals of churches, but, oh! how we thank God 
for it—thank Him for ‘“‘those immortal dead who live 
again in lives made better by their presence here.” 


Twenty-five years have passed since we called Dr. 
Cecil to be our pastor. He was installed November 
4, 1900, by a Committee of East Hanover Presby- 
tery—Rey. Dr. Smith, Rev. Dr. Witherspoon, Rev. 
Dr. Calvin Stewart, Rev. Dr. Kerr and Captain John 
A. Coke. Every member of that committee has pre- 
ceded Dr. Cecil into the home in Heaven. 


68 MEMORIALS 


ence 


The committee of this Church that had been ap- 
pointed to nominate a pastor to the congregation was 
Mr. W. W. Henry, Judge G. L. Christian, M. M. 
Gilliam and John S. Munce from the Session; S. H. 
Hawes, E. D. Taylor and J. L. Anderson from the 
Deacons. Of that committee only Mr. Taylor and 
myself remain, and of all the members of the Session 
and Board of Deacons at that time only. Mr. E. D. 
Taylor, H. S. Hawes and myself remain. All the rest 
have joined the saints in “the house not made with 
hands, eternal in the Heavens.” 


So you see how the membership of the Church 
changes even in twenty-five years, and we here today 
are reminded that the Church is not dependent on any 
one person; it is not man’s work but God’s. “God 
removes the workers but carries on the work.” 


We are met this afternoon for a memorial service, 
and I take it for granted that we are not in any formal, 
cold and critical way to discuss Dr. Cecil and analyze 
his character, but rather just talk of him as we knew 
him and loved him. It is easy to talk of one we have 
loved, and may I hope it is easy also to listen while 
another talks. 


Like the Ephesian elders at Miletus about Paul, 
‘We sorrow most of all that we shall see his face no 
more.’ We never get used to death; no matter how 
surely we expect it, when it comes it is startling, over- 
whelming, crushing, and I have often thought if we 
who have the Christian’s hope in our hearts think 
death so cruel when our loved ones are taken from 
us, how are those who have no sags or hope able to 


stand it. God pity them! 


MEMORIALS 69 


It is hard for us to realize that the kindly gentleman 
to whom we have looked as our Christian leader and 
guide has passed away from us and that we shall see 
his face no more. | 

When he came to us twenty-five years ago, he soon 
won his way into all our hearts by his modest and 
gracious manners and by his devotion to his work. 

Today in thinking about him and what he has been 
to us all during these twenty-five years, over and above 
our sadness rises a note of joy that we knew him, a 
note of thankfulness that God gave him to us for so 
many years of work and usefulness, years of leadership 
in our common labor in the Master’s kingdom, years 
of sweet fellowship, years of loving sympathy, years 
of helpfulness. To adapt the words of the well-known 
hymn: 

“For this thy saint who from his labours rests, 
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed, 


Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest. 
Hallelujah!” 


Dr. Cecil was a man of most pleasing personality; 
he made friends everywhere he went, and his winning 
smile revealed the affectionate and tender heart. He 
was a welcomed guest in all our homes, and [ think I 
may say we are all sorry that we did not see more of 
him. Men liked him, women liked him and, best of 
all, children liked him. Quiet of manner and gentle 
of speech, his tongue spoke no guile. J never remem- 
ber hearing him speak an unkind word against any one. 
When differences arose, no bitter or cruel word escaped 
his lips. ‘In his tongue was the law of kindness.” 
But this does not mean that he was insincere or a 


70 MEMORIALS 


‘weakling or without definite opinions. Firm in what 
he believed to be right, he had the courage and bravery 
to stand up for the truth always; even those who dif- 
fered, respected and honored him. Many a lesson in 
self-control] and ‘kindness of speech I learned watching 
him. ‘He left a world grown kindlier that he came.” 

Dr. Cecil was a true pastor. When joy came, he 
rejoiced with us; in hours of depression, he cheered 
and heartened us; when sorrow and darkness over- 
shadowed, his gentle and comforting words and heart- 
felt sympathy came as a brightening gleam through 
the gloom, and as a healing balm to the wounded 
heart, strengthening us to take up again bravely the 
duties of life. 

Sympathy is better felt than expressed. ‘The brief 
word and the pressure of a hand often convey more 
than many words, and we knew that he truly sympa- 
thized with us in our sorrows, as he told us of the 
Comforter waiting to enter our hearts to heal and 
bless. 

Dr. Cecil had received a splendid education, study- 
ing at Princeton University, Princeton Seminary, and, 
later, at Edinburgh University. Possessed of a won- 
derfully clear mind, enriched by wide and discrimi- 
nating reading of the best literature, and broadened by 
travel and contact with many men of many minds, he 
had a noble and large vision of life and its greatness, 
and a deep and sincere passion for souls. 

His chosen life work was to preach the gospel of 
God’s redeeming love for sinful men, and no false or 
discordant note marred the harmony of his message. 
He was never led aside by popular clamour to discuss 
sensational or ephemeral subjects in the pulpit. The 


MEMORIALS 71 


ey 


burden of his message was “‘God so loved the World 
that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever 
believeth in Him should not perish but have everlast- 
ing Life.” 

In this age when the lure of worldly prosperity is 
so attractive to men, his cry was, “Seek first the King- 
dom of God and His righteousness and all these things 
shall be added to you.” So he preached faithfully and 
powerfully and with a passionate earnestness we all 
felt and knew. ‘There was no note of doubt in his 
message. He did not defend the truth; he affirmed it. 
“IT KNOW Whom I have believed,” he proclaimed, 
and so amid all the confusion and storms of modern 
doubt and strange views and so-called Modernism, he 
remained steadfast. He knew that God would take 
care of His own Truth and that it would prevail. I 
feel that he had realized the fulfillment of the promise, 
“Tf any man willeth to do His will, he shall know of 
the doctrine whether it be of God.” 


He knew God’s truth by experience and preached 
it with all his heart and soul and strength and mind, 
and his soul yearned that men would accept Christ and 
be at peace. He wanted his people to dwell in the 
house of happiness, and in that house Jesus must be 
an honored guest. 


Like all good preachers, he prepared his sermons 
with the utmost care. He disliked careless work, es- 
pecially for the pulpit. Great themes demanded great 
thought and diligent work. | 


He spent much time in prayer, and knew the value 
of these hours of communion with God, and earnestly 
urged his people to cultivate the habit of prayer. 


72 MEMORIALS 


He was never happier than when doing evangelistic 
work, and I have frequently heard him preach earn- 
estly, faithfully and eloquently to a crowd of working 
men and women, in their overalls, at their lunch-hour 
in a factory, with evident joy in his heart, his face 
shining as he told them of Jesus and His love. “He- 
loved God’s gentler face and made it dear.’’—Lowell. 


This explains his zeal for Foreign Missions. Not 
the veneer of civilization, not ethical culture, not art, 
not humanitarianism nor uplift work, excellent as all 
these are in their proper place, could redeem heathen- 
dom from its darkness and cruelty and idolatry. Jesus 
Christ and Him crucified as the Saviour of the world, 
the only remedy for sin. The foolishness of preaching 
was God’s way of proclaiming the Gospel. First and 
always, Dr. Cecil believed the Gospel of Christ to be 
the only way of lifting heathendom from its deep and 
dark and cruel grave. 


Dr. Cecil was much beloved by his brethren in the 
ministry. His warm-hearted brotherliness, his sound 
common sense, his unselfishness made him truly a 
‘Father in Israel.” Many of them took him their 
problems, valuing his wise counsel and advice, always 
freely given. A Richmond minister said to me, ‘He 
was like a father to me; my problems of faith, my. per- 
sonal troubles, the difficulties in my work—I went to 
him with them all and always he was kind and wise 
and helpful. I cannot express in words how much he 
has been to me.”’ 


There was no selfishness or jealousy of other work- 
ers in him. He rejoiced in everything that promoted 


the Kingdom of God. 


MEMORIALS 73 


Called again and again to the highest positions of 
honor in the Church, not because he sought them, for 
he was modest and retiring and never self-seeking, but 
because his brethren looked up to him as a wise coun- 
selor and a safe leader. In the General Assembly, I 
have seen him enter a discussion that had reached a 
tense point, with much feeling shown, and in his quiet, 
forceful way offer a suggestion that would immediately 
appeal to all and bring peace and harmony out of con- 
fusion. [le was a great Presbyter, a great bishop in 
our Church, and his counsels will be sorely missed. 

Not only among his brethren in the ministry nor 
among the members of his own Church, but among his 
fellow citizens of all classes and all faiths was he loved 
and esteemed. The Roman Catholic Bishop and the 
Jewish Rabbi were his friends. I have heard capable 
business men say ‘“‘what a leader he would have been in 
the business world,” but he chose the better part—the 
winning of souls for Christ’s Kingdom, ‘“‘laying up, not 
treasures on earth, but treasures in Heaven, where 
neither moth nor rust doth corrupt and where thieves 
do noth break through nor steal.” 

Dr. Cecil never sought publicity. Like the great 
Dr. Jowett, he believed ‘“‘that when a minister of the 
Gospel is doing his proper work he makes no ‘copy’ 
for the newspaper. It is when he does and says things 
outside his proper sphere that he provides headlines 
for the secular press.” Yet he was one of the best 
known, best loved and most highly respected citizens 
of this city. When he died the city mourned him, the 
crowd at his funeral—men and women from all ranks 
and walks of life—testified their loss of a friend. 
' Both of our daily newspapers not only published bio- 


74 MEMORIALS 


eee 


graphical notices of him, but editorials expressing in a 
striking way their admiration for him as a man, a 
citizen, and a minister of the Gospel. ‘The closing 
lines of one of these editorials reads, ‘‘Yet he was not 
stern, but kindly; he was not cold, but tender; he was 
not forbidding, but warm. To the end of his long and 
beautiful life—so walked he from his birth, in simple- 
ness and gentleness and honor and clean mirth.” 
Surely, too, another part of another line is true of 
him: that when yesterday he died ‘“‘he trod that day 
to God.” 

What Dr. Cecil was to this Church, who can esti- 
mate? Coming to its pastorate at a critical time in its 
history, following in less than a year a man conspicuous 
for eloquence, character and force, the work of the 
church prospered greatly under him. Enlarged mem- 
bership, greatly enlarged contributions to all benevo- 
lent causes, enlarged Home and Foreign Missionary 
enterprises, enlarged work in many fields, yet all done 
without one word of self praise, it was always “not 
unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give 
glory, for Thy mercy and for Thy truth’s sake.”’ 

When Dr. Hoge was celebrating the fiftieth anni- 
versary of his pastorate of this Church, he paid this 
tribute to the ladies of the Church—‘“The female mem- 
bers of the Church were characterized by their intelli- 
gence and zealous and hearty devotion to the work of 
the different societies organized among them for 
benevolent purposes of every kind, and no other agency 
has accomplished more for the prosperity of this 
Church or for the great enterprises of Christian phi- 
lanthrophy by which the world is benefited and blest.” 
Dr. Cecil had equally warm and loving appreciation 


MEMORIALS 75 


of the loyal assistance you ladies gave him in his work, 
and often spoke to the Session about it. You will 
miss him, miss his wise counsels, miss his words of 
encouragement and cheer and helpfulness, and I think 
if he could send you a message today it would be the 
words the English soldiers said to each other in the 
World War, ‘‘Carry on.” 

With great tenderness would I speak today of her 
who mourns her life-long lover, husband, companion. 
We know how fortunate and happy and blessed he was 
in his wife. Like the wise preacher of old, he could 
say, ‘The heart of her husband doth safely trust in 
her.” ‘She did him good and not evil all the days of 
his life.’ Our prayers go up for her today, that the 
comforting message of Christ’s love that her husband 
carried to many bereaved hearts, may comfort her, and 
that her heart may not be troubled till she joins him 
in the mansion that Christ has prepared for them, 
eternal in the Heavens. 

I bring you no lessons drawn from his life. Each 
of us knows best what we learned of him, but for what 
he was to us for so many years our praise goes up 
“Unto Him who loved us and washed us from our 
sins in His own blood, to Him be glory and dominion 
forever and ever. Amen.” 


DR. CECIL’S LAST SERMON 
The GOLDEN RULE 


[This sermon was the last prepared by Rev. Dr. Russell 
Cecil. It was to have been delivered to his congregation at the 
Second Church, in Richmond, Va. The last work that he did 
was going over this sermon Saturday evening, familiarizing him- 
self with it, so as to be ready to preach it the next morning. 
While thus engaged the summons from the Master came. 
Through Sunday and until Monday afternoon he tarried for 
the final call, and then went to be with the Saviour whom he 
loved and served so well. ‘This last message to his people, Dr. 
Cecil was not permitted to deliver. We consider ourselves for- 
tunate in being able to give it to all of our readers. | 

—Presbyterian of the South. 


“Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that 
men should do to you, do you even so to them: for 
this is the law and the prophets.’—-MATTHEW 7:12. 


This verse is known as the Golden Rule of Christian 
Conduct, and many people, not a few of whom do not 
profess to be Christians, claim to have adopted this 
as descriptive of their way of life and of their attitude 
toward other people. I have endeavored to discover 
the author of this beautiful phrase, ‘“The Golden 
Rule,” as applied to these words of our blessed Lord; 
but all of my search has been in vain. No one, how- 
ever, can question the beauty of the term. It is con- 
tended by some that Jesus is not the Author of the 
Golden Rule. It is found in the Apocryphal book of 
Tobit and in the teachings of Confucius, the Chinese 
philosopher, in the negative form. It remained, how- 
ever, for Jesus Himself to make the positive declara- 
tion, as we find it here in the text, and also in virtually 


MEMORIALS rif 


the same words in the gospel of Luke. ‘Therefore all 
things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, 
do you even so to them: for this is the law and the 
prophets.” 

In this positive form you have, not only the expres- 
sion of justice in our dealings with our fellow men, 
but beyond that the expression of grace and goodness. 
The Golden Rule, as our Lord puts it, calls for love 
in the heart as well as an outward manifestation in 
the life. The Golden Rule is not only ‘‘the law,” but 
it is also ‘“‘the prophets.”’ ‘That is to say, it includes 
the whole teaching of the Old Testament Scriptures, 
as well as of the New. Jesus had a way of summing 
up the significance of God’s revelation of His will as 
it is found in the Old Testament Scriptures in a few 
words, like these of the Golden Rule, and then giving 
to the words a new and fuller application. The Golden 
Rule as it comes from Jesus embraces everything of a 
practical nature in the Christian life. 

It is a common experience with me, and no doubt 
with you also, to hear some one say, “‘Well, I do not 
claim to be much of a Christian, or perhaps not a Chris- 
tian at all in the true sense, my faith is weak and fal- 
tering; but I have adopted the Golden Rule as the law 
of my life, to do unto others as I would like them to do 
unto me; the Golden Rule is my religion.”” Now this 
is certainly a large claim, and I apprehend that many 
people make it without fully realizing the full sig- 
nificance of what they are saying and undertaking to 
do. I have never before taken the Golden Rule as a 
text for a sermon, and I do not remember ever to have 
heard a sermon preached upon it. But it occurs to me 
that half an hour spent upon thinking and talking about 


78 MEMORIALS 


it might prove of practical value to our spiritual life; 
and therefore I ask your attention this morning to 
some thoughts upon the Golden Rule. 


THE GOLDEN RULE IN BUSINESS 


Let us consider the application of it in the business 
affairs of life. I understand there is a man of large 
business interests in the city of Cincinnati who is known 
as ‘Golden Rule Nash’; and for some years past he 
has been endeavoring to apply the principle of the 
Golden Rule in all of his business affairs and in all of 
his dealings with his employees. It is commonly re- 
ported by those who are acquainted with his experi- 
ence that not only has his business largely increased, 
but his adoption of the Golden Rule has also added 
much to his own satisfaction and to the happiness of 
those who are employed by him. I can readily under- 
stand how the application of the Golden Rule to busi- 
ness would effect a marvelous change in the relation- 
ship existing between capital and labor, the employer 
and his employees. I believe that we have many busi- 
ness houses throughout the country, and certainly some 
of them here in our own city, which are gradually, but 
steadily adopting this great principle with satisfactory 
results. | 

Suppose that a man who does not profess to be a 
Christian, or whether he be a Christian or no, claims 
to adopt the Golden Rule in his dealings with his fel- 
low men, in business and elsewhere, how much does 
this include? 

Suppose you are a prosperous man, it means that 
you are not striving to prosper at the expense of your 


MEMORIALS 79 





fellow men. While competition may be the life of 
trade, and more or less of it perhaps is necessary; if 
you are going to treat the other man as you would like 
for him to treat you, you must be just and generous to 
him, and you must not lose your charity and sympathy 
for the man who is not prosperous; and you must not 
take advantage of the poor man who is dependent upon 
his daily labor for a living for himself and his loved 
ones. If you are living by the Golden Rule you can- 
not say to yourself, “‘Well, this fellow cannot help 
himself, and he is bound to do as I tell him, whether 
agreeable to him or not, or whether he likes it or not.” 
If you are going to treat others as you would like to 
be treated, you must put yourself in their place. 


But suppose you are not a prosperous man; but, as 
is the case with the vast majority of men, you fail 
sooner or later; and suppose you are striving with ad- 
versity and finding it daily a hand-to-mouth struggle 
to make a living; there is no reason why, even under 
those circumstances, you should not adopt the Golden 
Rule, and say, “I am going to treat others as I would 
like to have others treat me.” In that case you should 
not be envious and jealous of the prosperous man and 
hate him, and say that he is taking advantage of his 
position to oppress you; and you should not be unkind 
to your fellows who are in the same condition as your- 
self. The man in adversity should put himself in the 
place of the prosperous man, and should think, ““Now 
if I were prosperous what would I do? How would 
I treat those who perhaps are not as prosperous as 
I am, or who are dependent upon me for their daily. 
bread?” 


80 MEMORIALS 


In short, when we come to apply the Golden Rule 
to the daily affairs of business life you will find that it 
is not an easy thing to do; and when a man says to me, 
‘Well, I do not profess to be a Christian, but I live 
by the Golden Rule,” I wonder if he really understands 
what he is saying, and if he realizes what a big propo- 
sition he has taken upon his hands. There are some 
people who say it is impossible to apply the Golden 
Rule in all business affairs of life. Jesus, however, 
did not think so; and He is our greatest Teacher as 
well as our greatest Example. 


THE GOLDEN RULE IN SOCIETY 


But let us next consider the application of the Golden 
Rule to the ordinary social affairs of life. It should 
not only apply to business, but also to society. 

If you are to follow the Golden Rule you cannot be 
harsh in your judgment of others. In this Sermon on 
the Mount our Lord touches practically upon all of 
these applications of the Golden Rule which I am en- 
deavoring to bring to your attention. He says, “‘Judge 
not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment 
ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure 
you mete, it shall be measured to you again.” If we 
are harsh in our judgment of others we may be sure 
that others will be harsh in their judgment of us. If 
you do not wish others to judge you harshly, when you 
are perhaps in trouble or difficulty, or have committed 
serious errors or mistakes, you must not be harsh in 
your judgment of them. The best of society is by no 
means perfect; and the best people in society are by 
no means perfect. ‘This is true in any rank or grade 


MEMORIALS 81 





of life—among the rich and the poor, the high and the 
low—and the same principle should apply, and the 
Golden Rule is equally true for us all. If you do not 
wish others to be bitter against you, jealous of you, 
and critical of you, be sure that you do not indulge in 
such a state of mind toward them. 

The one thing above all others which should control 
us in our application of the Golden Rule is the exercise 
of charity toward the faults of other people. We 
should remember that we have faults of our own, and 
we wish to be judged charitably. Charity covers a 
multitude of sins, and it is a cloak of love which we 
should use in all of our thoughts and dealings with 
others. If you are so unfortunate as to hear a slan- 
derous story against one of your fellows, do not be 
eager to believe it. But be slow to believe it, and do 
not believe it at all, unless you have proof positive 
that it is true, and proof that cannot be ignored. Many 
persons are seriously injured by slander, and because 
people are not willing to exercise charity toward them. 

We may be kind and helpful in society, as in busi- 
ness and in other matters of life. Sometimes people 
are cruel in their extreme reserve; and leave the im- 
pression (whether they mean to do so or not) that 
they are very much better and superior to their neigh- 
bors. This is what our Lord used to characterize as 
Pharisaism; and He was not mild in the terms He used 
concerning it. I remember many years ago reading a 
lecture by Ruskin addressed to girls; and one of his 
exhortations to them, very earnestly emphasized, was, 
“Girls, do not be cruel to each other.’ At that time 
I could hardly appreciate what he meant. But I have 
learned that girls in a very quiet, and often apparently 


82 MEMORIALS 


sweet way, can be exceedingly cruel to each other. 
If you do not wish others to be cruel to you, do not 
you be cruel to them. The Golden Rule can find a 
multitude of applications in ordinary social life. 


THE GOLDEN RULE IN THE FAMILY 


Next we may consider the application of the Golden 
Rule in the family life. The home is a wonderful 
place to try it. Many homes would be happier and 
better if the Golden Rule was constantly in use among 
the members in their dealings with each other. 

Love should be the controlling force in the home. 
But we are often tempted to be critical and fault-find- 
ing, even with members of our own household. If 
one gives way to that disposition he should not be 
surprised if others do the same thing. We should 
learn to be gentle and patient with each other. Large 
families and large family connections may be very 
happy, useful and helpful to each other, if they will 
apply the Golden Rule in all of their dealings with each 
other. On the contrary, if they are not willing to 
apply the Golden Rule, there may be much unhappi- 
ness and misery and hard feelings among them. It 
is easy enough in any community to compare the home 
life of families. Some very large families, which have 
multiplied to maybe a dozen different households, live 
in great peace and harmony; while others are not able 
to get on with each other, but are jealous, and con- 
tinually snarling and fighting each other. If we are to 
do unto others as we would have them do unto us, we 
should certainly begin in our own homes and among 
our own connections and blood relations. Some large 


MEMORIALS 83 





family connections are a great blessing to the com- 
munity in which they live; while others manage to keep 
the community in a continual snarl. 

Let us therefore study not to be critical of each 
other; but to be helpful to each other. Not to be 
jealous of each other, but to rejoice in each other’s 
prosperity. Nothing will produce more unhappiness 
than bitterness and jealousy in the home life. We 
should not be forgetful of each other’s interests; but 
should study to advance each other’s interests. 


THE GOLDEN RULE IN THE CHURCH 


But once more, let us consider the Golden Rule in 
its application to our work in the Church as Christians. 
After all it is the Christian Rule of Conduct, and comes 
to us from our blessed Saviour Himself. He gives it 
a broad and comprehensive application when He says, 
‘Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men 
should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is 
the law and the prophets.”’ I have step by step made 
certain practical applications of the Golden Rule—to 
business, to society, and to the home—but as Chris- 
tians we cannot really separate our lives into great 
‘ departments, and say that we can apply the Golden 
Rule to one, and not to another. What I have had 
in mind especially up to this point is that many people, 
who do not profess to be Christians, yet claim that 
they live by the Golden Rule. My contention is, if 
you are going to live by the Golden Rule, you have to 
live the Christian life; and certainly it must begin in 
the Church of God, in our dealings with our fellow 

Christians. If you are not a Christian, can you really 


84 MEMORIALS 


live by the Golden Rule? and if you are a Christian, 
are you living by the Golden Rule? Let each one of 
us take this now to himself and be honest with himself. 
If as Christians we are to live by the Golden Rule 
we must practice the forgiving spirit. Suppose you 
have offended some one, or done something you ought 
not to do; you certainly wish to be forgiven. If you 
wish others to forgive you then you must be forgiving 
yourself. Our Lord goes so far in this same Sermon 
on the Mount as to make the application, “I say unto 
you, [hat ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite 
thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. ... 
Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good 
to them that hate you, and pray for them that despite- 
fully use you, and persecute you. That ye may be the 
children of your Father which is in heaven: for He 
maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, 
and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” This 
means that the Father in heaven is continually forgiv- 
ing those who have offended against Him. Indeed all 
of us who are saved must be forgiven by the heavenly 
Father, and He is continually doing good to us, even 
when we are forgetful of Him and sinning against 
Him. Now, says Jesus, if you are to be the children 
of your Father which is in heaven, you should cultivate 
the spirit of your Father in heaven. He even goes so 
far as to say, “If ye forgive not men their trespasses, 
neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”’ 
This Golden Rule should control us in our work in 
the Church. We need to be helpful to each other, not 
critical of each other. What can we hope to accom- 
plish by simply bearing down on each other, and abus- 
ing other people in the Church, often times when we 


MEMORIALS 85 


ee 


ourselves are no better than they. I must say I have 
never seen much good accomplished by a professional 
kicker in the Church, or anywhere else. I believe that 
those who do most good in the Church are those who 
exercise the loving, forgiving spirit, the helpful spirit, 
the spirit of co-operation; those who are ready to do 
their part, and not to shift the responsibility on other 
shoulders, and then criticise these others for not doing 
what they think ought to be done. Let us not be too 
sensitive and too afraid of having our feelings hurt. 
Let us think about the work of the Church, let us love 
that, and love our brothers and sisters who are en- 
deavoring to do their part. Treat others, even in the 
Church of God, as you would have them treat you. Be 
warm and friendly and loving and prayerful. It has 
been one of the chief characteristics of the life of this: 
Church that the people have lived in such harmony and 
good-will toward each other. Let us continue to culti- 
vate that trait; as Paul says, ‘‘Study the things that 
make for peace.”’ The Apostle James gives us some 
good advice when he says, “‘Wherefore, my beloved 
brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, 
slow to wrath: for the wrath of man worketh not the 
righteousness of God.” 

Let us apply the Golden Rule also to those who are 
tempted, and to those who give way before temptation. 
All of us are subject to temptation, and all of us yield 
to it. So the apostle Paul says in writing to the Ga- 
latians, ‘‘Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, 
ye which are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit 
of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be 
tempted.” This means, if one be overtaken in a fault, 
do not begin to criticise him, to abuse him, to withdraw 


86 MEMORIALS 


from him and to threaten to put him out of the Church. 
But we are to restore him, remembering that we are 
all subject to temptation. Treat him as you would 
like for him to treat you. Suppose you commit a fault, 
suppose you yield to temptation, would you wish all 
the people in the Church to criticise you, and leave you 
to go from bad to worse? Treat others as you would 
have them treat you under similar circumstances. 

Let us also apply the Golden Rule to those who are 
in trouble. Be sympathetic and helpful to the sick and 
the sorrowful. When you are in trouble, how do you 
feel, if others forget you, neglect you, are cold and 
unsympathetic in their attitude toward your You ap- 
preciate the kindness, the love and the help of your 
friends in times of trouble; therefore you should exer- 
cise the same spirit toward them. There is nothing 
that touches the heart like sympathy and help, when 
one is in trouble; and frequently, I am happy to say, 
people who are in great trouble tell me, “I did not 
know I had so many friends; and their kindness has 
broken my heart.’ This is the Christian spirit; this is 
really the application of the Golden Rule. 


HEtpe NEEDED 


In these, and in many other ways which I have not 
mentioned, when we think seriously about it, we can 
understand what our Lord meant by saying, ‘“There- 
fore all things whatsoever ye would that men should 
do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law 
and the prophets’; and we can understand what it 
implies when one says he does not claim to be a Chris- 
tian, but that he adopts the Golden Rule as his rule of 


MEMORIALS 87 





life. How large a contract he has taken upon himself! 
Now honestly I do not believe that any man who is 
not a Christian can apply the Golden Rule; and I do 
not believe any Christian can do it, as our Lord intends 
for him to do it, unless he is led by the spirit of God 
and has His sustaining grace. If you and I are going 
to live by the Golden Rule, we must live near to the 
Saviour. Our Master says it is only in this way that 
we are to be the children of our Father who is in 
heaven. We have to learn to be like Him. 

If you are going to adopt the Golden Rule, and 
certainly you cannot adopt a better one, you will have 
to start out by giving your heart to Christ; and you 
must ask His guidance and the help of His grace. 


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